Mormon Bloggers

Missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints now dot the globe spreading the word of God everywhere. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over fifty thousand full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010. Commonly referred to as “Mormon missionaries,” most LDS Church missionaries are single young men and women in their late teens and early twenties and are assigned to a mission which is usually far from the missionary’s home. LDS missionaries serve voluntarily. They do not receive a salary for the work they undertake, and most are financially supported by themselves or their families.  Throughout the history of the Church, over one million missionaries have been sent on missions. They learn many lessons to prepare them for their future lives as husbands, wives and eventually fathers and... Read the rest of this entry »

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland held a press conference yesterday representing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, communicating the deep concern for the people of Japan who have been affected by the terrible series of tragedies — earthquake, tsunami, nuclear radiation concerns. The Church has committed financial resources to help Japan and will continue to stay in touch with local leaders, relief institutions, and governmental agencies in the country to figure out where and how disaster relief support can be most helpful. (For those interested in contributing in the funds that help the Church provide such financial support, visit the LDS Humanitarian Relief via LDS Philanthropies. (Or you can go directly to the Humanitarian Aid Fund donation page.) 100% of contributions go to helping those in need.) Elder Holland also updated the press and listeners about the status of LDS missionaries in the country (they are all accounted for and some two hundred (plus) missionaries are being... Read the rest of this entry »

When you love golf, missionary work and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as I do (and even if you don’t), anyone can draw some inspiration from this clip: Free Counter  Read More →

You have probably seen them — most common are the young men in dark suits and black nametags. Young women, older couples and some older single women also serve. Mormon missionaries voluntarily give 18-24 months of their lives to share more about our beliefs as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What motivates Mormon missionaries to want to serve? Read accounts from several Mormon women about why they decided to serve missions. http://www.mormonmissionprep.com/2010/11/30/sister-missionaries-what-made-you-decide-to-serve/ A Mormon woman who calls herself “Paradox” shares experiences that helped her toward her dream of serving a mission. Read more from Mormon women who have served missions in our “Mormon Women on a Mission” posts.  Read More →

Shaun Gogarty is one of the founders of Pedal With A Purpose, a site dedicated to providing Mormon missionaries with better bikes so they can focus on the real purpose of missionary work. Pedal With A Purpose does this through education on the Pedal With A Purpose Blog, and by outfitting missionaries with the right types of mission bicycles (i.e. bikes better for the urban environment most missionaries work in). Marathons and Missions A marathon is a 26.2 mile endurance race and similarly a mission is an endurance event. Read any guide on preparing for a marathon and you will find within the top ten suggestions: do not use anything new on race day! Many would be marathoners have failed because of a new shirt chafing or new shoes causing blisters with each step. Similarly many new missionaries are spiritually well prepared, but physically miserable because they are using new equipment, their mission bike, in a very physical event. Accomplishing your mission of inviting others to come unto... Read the rest of this entry »

Mesa Temple ….for missionary work! There is no better time to share the gospel than during the Christmas season. People are more receptive because the Spirit is strong, everyone is kind and cheerful, and there is a lot of focus on Christ. Invite friends and family to: walk the temple grounds, especially if it has a visitors’ center, is decorated with lights and a nativity, or hosts mini concerts. watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional the first Sunday in December. watch Joy to the World, the Church’s short DVD on the Savior’s birth. watch any Christmas video by the Church. read or reenact the story of Christ’s birth. go to a religious Christmas pageant. participate in service. attend your ward’s Christmas party. go caroling, singing Christmas hymns. write letters or send care packages to missionaries. join you for Family Home Evening. come to church. read the Book of Mormon. Challenge: Invite friends or family to do one of the above... Read the rest of this entry »

We have several links to help answer this question. Read this post by a Mormon mom whose son just opened his mission call: Mormon Missionary Q&A — The CNN News Belief Blog just included a pretty good summary of Mormon missionary life while reporting about Elizabeth Smart’s other journey as a Mormon missionary in Europe. (Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped from her home when she was 14, and was found nine months later. She is on temporary leave from her mission for the trial of her abductor.) — Learn about the young (ages 19 to 21) Mormon missionaries Learn about senior Mormon missionaries Learn about the message Mormon missionaries preach to the world — How are mission calls issued? This talk from Elder Ronald Rasband about the importance of missionary service answers that question pretty clearly. He was invited to witness the process firsthand. He explains: First, we knelt together in prayer…. As the process began, a picture of the missionary to be assigned... Read the rest of this entry »

The Old Testament is teaching me valuable awareness – “the more things change, the more they stay the same”.  The Children of Israel go through repeating patterns that match the people’s experience in the Book of Mormon and they are the same cycles we go through today.  This is the first time I’ve been fully conscious that Old Testament history repeats itself too.  We mortals have been at it a long time, with the same old devastating results! From the looks of things, I’d conjecture that we’ve started the deterioration cycle.  The loss of peace, the loss of well-being and the loss of prosperity.  Right now, today, the concept of God is either rejected or distorted.  The label “religious” has become a condescending description.  Politically correct is frequently morally disastrous.  Fighting for what is right is fully opposed and corrupted on the political and civic scene.  A tidal wave of... Read the rest of this entry »

We have been asked to join the online conversation.  There is so much false information on the internet about our faith, and about our culture.  If we do not join the online conversation, then people’s impression of who the LDS are will be shaped by derogatory comments made by those who misunderstand and oppose our religion.  Russell M. Ballard made some wonderful comments on this topic: “The emergence of New Media is facilitating a world-wide conversation on almost every subject including religion, and nearly everyone can participate. … “Conversations will continue whether or not we choose to participate in them. But we cannot stand on the sidelines while others, including our critics, attempt to define what the Church teaches. … “The challenge is that there are too many people participating in conversation about the Church for our Church personnel to converse with and respond to individually. We cannot answer every question, satisfy every... Read the rest of this entry »

I have attached an email sent by Becky from President Pacini, the former mission president in the Rome, Italy mission regarding the upcoming groundbreaking of the Rome, Italy temple!  Thanks, Becky! Thanks, President!  – President Monson will attend the temple groundbreaking with invited guests. —————- Dear Elders and Sisters (and our friend s who love Italy), Today, 10/10/10, throughout the length and breadth of our beloved land of service to the Lord, Italy, an announcement was read to all those present in Church. It indicated that the groundbreaking for the temple in Italy will be held on October 23, 2010. Presiding at that ceremony will be President Thomas S. Monson. Sister Pacini and I wish to thank each of you once again for your faithfulness during your missions together with your fasting and prayers since that time in behalf of this and other Italian related events. Over the years these acts of devotion, coupled with those of the Saints in... Read the rest of this entry »

As corny and somewhat doctrinally incorrect the play Saturday’s Warrior is, the main song is truly inspiring: Who are these children coming down, coming down,Like gentle rain through darkened skies,With glory trailing from their feet as they goAnd endless promise in their eyes?Who are these young ones growing tall, growing strong,Like silver trees against the storm,Who will not bend with the wind or the change,But stand to fight the world alone?These are the few, the warriors saved for Saturday,To come the last day of the world.These are they on Saturday.These are the strong, the warriors rising in their mightTo win the battle raging in the hearts of men on Saturday.Strangers from a realm of light who have forgotten allThe memory of their former life, the purpose of their call.And so they must learn why they’re here and who they really are.They must learn why they’re here and who they are!These are the few, the warriors saved for Saturday,To come the last day of the world.These... Read the rest of this entry »

Anti-Mormonism can cause your blood to boil.  It takes practice to be involved in the online LDS discussion!  I’m barely there myself.  My 21 year-old daughter goes crazy when she sees some of the comments on the #lds and #mormon threads at Twitter.  Lots of anti-Mormonism there, but I’m not afraid of it any more.  I’ve come to realize anti-Mormonism is fueled by shallow and weak concepts.  This statement isn’t meant to be arrogant or condescending, it’s just sadly true.  This wasn’t obvious to me in the beginning.  When first deciding to dive into the anti-Mormonism fray, I was expecting a huge, substantial taxing of the intellect.  So it was shocking to discover how shallow, and lacking in real scholarship or honesty that anti-Mormonism actually is. Battling anti-Mormonism mostly consists of four parts:  first and foremost – verifying the references, and finding them to be fabricated, taken... Read the rest of this entry »